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Coach's Playbook

School of Thoughtful Leaders

Posted on 9/23/2016 by Shaleek Blackburn


Basketball coach talking to his players

In order to evaluate a coach and his or her athletic program, it's crucial that parents, players and program staff understand their leadership philosophy, says Tom White, founder and director of the Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration.

“The objectives of the coach should be quite clear,” White says. “It can be as simple as a coach letting it be known that he or she emphasizes excellence and encouragement.” However, before coaches verbally share their credo, says Dr. Schlichtemeier, Principles of Coaching and Leadership professor for the MCAA program, they should clearly formulate their position on paper. “By having that philosophy written down, coaches know where they want to take the people in their program,” says Dr. Schlichtemeier. “If a coach doesn’t have a philosophy, they’ll meander, trying different strategies from day-to-day. This kind of experience will frustrate everyone involved.”

Dr. Schlichtemeier, a CUI women’s basketball Hall of Famer who now coaches local youth sports, believes there are three key parts to producing a coaching philosophy: mission, vision and core values. Mission, he says, is synonymous with the purpose of the organization or program. Once the mission is identified, athletic leaders need to articulate their vision or goal of where they want to take the athletes and ultimately, how to get people excited about their sports program. Lastly, he recommends that coaches come up with at least three to five core values that will anchor their team.

“The values are, in essence, where the coaches spend most of their time, money and energy,” Dr. Schlichtemeier says. “It’s what distinguishes one program from another.” Whether your core values consist of playing zone defense, shooting a high number of three-pointers, or controlling the clock, the coach’s main value should zero in on character development. “A leader who has a clearly defined leadership philosophy, who takes time to communicate that philosophy to assistant coaches, player and parents, is going to enable the experience for all athletes to be a transformational one.”


3 Tips For Creating A Coaching Philosophy

Define It

Determine what defines you as a coach and devise a philosophy to fit that definition.

Write It

Put your position on paper, including your view on playing time, style of play and player development, from both a skills and character standpoint.

Spread It

Communicate your philosophy to everyone: parents, players and assistant coaches. Hold a meeting before the start of practice so everyone knows what to expect.

Tags: Coaching, development, sports, philosophy

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